Nacogdoches Holds Off Tyler Lee + Handing Red Raiders’ First Loss

TYLER -- The Nacogdoches Dragons rolled to a big first-half lead, and ultimately had to hang on to defeat Tyler Lee, 24-17, handing the Red Raiders their first loss of the season Friday night.

Nacogdoches (2-1) scored the game's first 24 points, but was kept off the scoreboard for the game's final 30-plus minutes.

Dragons senior running back Phillip Jones continued his strong start to the year with 233 yards and a touchdown. Jones has rushed for at least 100 yards in all three games this season.

Noah Hildebrand tossed a 36-yard touchdown pass to Jaylon Maxie, and Josh Thompson -- a Texas commit -- returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown.

Lee (2-1) trimmed Nacogdoches' lead to 24-14 by scoring twice in the final four minutes of the half -- touchdown runs of 1 and 2 yards by quarterback Chance Amie, who rushed for a game-high 234 yards on 26 carries.

Neither team did much on offense in the second half. Leonel Coreas' 26-yard field goal with 10:32 remaining in the fourth quarter cut Lee's deficit to 24-17, but the Red Raiders could not get any closer.

Both teams return to the field next Friday night. Nacogdoches plays at Hallsville, while Lee begins District 11-6A play on the road at Rockwall-Heath.